Abstract: A process for producing 3,4-dihydrocoumarin comprising cyclization and dehydrogenation of a 3-(2-cyclohexanoyl)propionic acid ester, in which a reaction mixture obtained by the cyclization and dehydrogenation is washed with an alkali to reduce the dihydrocinnamic acid content of the reaction mixture to 1% by weight or less and/or previously distilling the reaction mixture to remove high-boiling substances, and then subjected to rectification to recover 3,4-dihydrocoumarin. The thus obtained 3,4-dihydrocoumarin has high purity and high quality sufficient for use as a perfume as it is.